Building a Robust Defense Sector in Hawaii – the Time is Now

Abstract:

Learn about the $2.7B in contract spending by the Department of Defense and the opportunities for your business. Get an overview of the INDOPACOM’s priorities, and opportunities for the private sector. Also hear from business leaders on how to be successful in the defense sector.

Track: ‘ELUA (Track 2) – Sustainability, Planning & Construction

Session #: 2B

Date: November 18, 2022

Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Location: 318B

AIA CEUs: 1 LU

Presenter:

Major General Mark A. Hashimoto
Mobilization Assistant to Commander
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

Major General Hashimoto was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Stanford University and a Master of Business Administration from UCLA prior to his commissioning through the Officer Candidate Class Ground program in 1992. After serving on active duty as an infantry officer from 1992-1998, he transitioned to the Marine Corps Reserve. Since then, he has risen through the ranks and, in 2018, was promoted to brigadier general and assigned as Deputy Commander, MARFORPAC (Mobilization). He then served as Commanding General, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve (New Orleans, LA) until April 2021, when he assumed his current duties as the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

As a civilian he has held billets at HQ, MARFORPAC since March 2000. As a member of the Federal Government's Senior Executive Service since November 2019 he now serves as the Executive Director, MARFORPAC.

Major General Mark A. Hashimoto
Mobilization Assistant to Commander
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

Daphne Tong-Pave
Director of Compliance
The Nakupuna Companies

Daphne Tong-Pave is the Director of Compliance and joined the Nakupuna Companies in 2022.

Daphne has served as the principal advisor for all U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) compliance activities at the Nakupuna Companies since 2014, a position she initially held as an independent consultant. Daphne helped obtain SBA 8(a) certification for three of the Nakupuna Companies and continues to ensure they comply with SBA program regulations. Daphne is also responsible for developing and overseeing a compliance program across the Nakupuna Companies that ensures business operations comply with applicable regulations and policies.

Prior to joining the Nakupuna Companies, Daphne co-founded Holomua Consulting Group, LLC, a women-owned small business. As Vice President and Senior Consultant, Daphne was responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the firm and advising clients on issues related to small business contracting programs and regulatory compliance. She also served as the Native Hawaiian Organization Association’s (NHOA’s) co Executive Director, where she helped advocate for the NHO 8(a) program. Daphne began her career working as an aide to U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka, where she managed a portfolio of various issues – including defense as well as Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native, and Native American concerns — and assisted with developing and advancing legislation.

Daphne is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Daphne Tong-Pave
Director of Compliance
The Nakupuna Companies

Brennon Morioka, PhD
Dean, College of Engineering
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Dr. Morioka is a licensed civil engineer in Hawai‘i and California. He has served in multiple executive positions in Hawai‘i. He was the general manager for electrification of transportation at Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO), the former director for the State of Hawai‘i Department of Transportation (HDOT), and the deputy executive director for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART). He has served as vice president and area manager for CH2M HILL in the Honolulu Office and the executive vice president of Shioi Construction. All of these positions have provided him with extensive experiences in both the public and private sectors in the engineering and business world.

Dr. Morioka received his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley, and completed his doctoral studies at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Brennon Morioka, PhD
Dean, College of Engineering
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Ryo Nakamoto, PE
DoD Client Account Manager
Jacobs

Ryo Nakamoto, P.E., is the client account manager for Jacobs’ US Department of Defense (DoD) design and construction portfolio in Hawai‘i, Guam, Alaska, and Japan. In this role, he develops and sustains strategic business relationships with DoD clients through the delivery of solutions customized to fit the specific needs for Jacobs’ DoD Clients in the Pacific. He is able to do this as a result of his unique combination of knowledge of Jacobs’ wide-ranging capabilities and services and a unique experience and skillset from a US DoD civil service career that focused on technical engineering and program management.

Prior to joining Jacobs, Ryo served as a US DoD civilian with the Navy Public Works Center, Pearl Harbor; Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Far East District, and most recently with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pacific Ocean Division retiring as the Chief of the Military
Integration Division (MID Chief), Directorate of Programs with a total of 35 years of service.

Ryo Nakamoto, PE
DoD Client Account Manager
Jacobs

Wyeth Matsubara
Nan, Inc.

Wyeth M. Matsubara joined Nan, Inc. in 2015 after more than 17 years of practicing law in Honolulu since 1997 and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in areas of business law, real estate development, acquisitions, land use entitlement, litigation defense, planning and permitting. He has been a crucial part in expanding the company’s share of the current construction market and works closely with company executives and personnel as a trusted advisor by providing valuable guidance and innovative direction to the company in its daily operations, legal matters and business strategy and is exceptional in establishing relationships and trust with partners and parties on all sides of the table.

Wyeth Matsubara
Nan, Inc.